by Ivy Smoak
Chapter 19
Tuesday
I pulled my hair in front of my shoulders to hide the bruises as best I could. For some reason, it hadn't even occurred to me that I wouldn't be allowed to wear my hoodie at work. But as soon as I got there, Joan had handed me a t-shirt that had Corner Diner scrawled across it and told me to change.
I touched the center of my chest. I could feel the Sagitta pendant underneath. There was no reason for me to be here. I had more money than I could possibly imagine. But I wasn't going to touch it. I wanted to start over on my own. And this job was going to be good for me. It would help me focus on the present. Besides, the present was a whole lot better than my past. As long as Don Roberts had a no contact order, he couldn't touch me. And as long as I stayed invisible, he wouldn't be able to find me even when he could leave Colorado. Which would hopefully be never after the trial. Not that I had much faith in Mr. Crawford anymore.
No more calling Mr. Crawford. No more imagining people following me. No more getting pulled into my own fears. I was done.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and looked at the text from Eli.
"See you after work. There's this ice cream place down the street from the diner. Dessert is on me."
"See you then," I quickly typed back. Yes, the present was a whole lot better than my past.